Colonels are 'Marching'

Friday

Feb 24, 2012 at 9:29 AM

Kelly McElroyStaff Writer

Six dunks!?That’s what the Nicholls State men’s basketball team finished with in a key 80-70 Southland Conference victory over Central Arkansas on Wednesday night in Thibodaux.If you have followed the Colonels in recent seasons, you would know that six dunks in one game could be considered extremely rare. Nicholls hasn’t exactly been playing above the rim of late.But the Colonels aren’t only making moves through the air right now. More importantly, they also are making a move toward a spot in this season’s Southland Conference Tournament.After an 0-6 start to the conference season, the Colonels (9-17 overall) have bounced back to go 5-2 in their last seven league games and are currently in eighth place in the SLC standings.The top eight teams qualify for the SLC Tournament in Katy, Texas (March 6-8) at the end of the regular season.A spot in the postseason would have been considered unlikely for the Colonels after the 0-6 conference start especially because the team’s only seniors, Ben Martin and Fred Hunter, have not played this year because of injuries.In fact, Colonels sophomores Bryan Hammond, Jeremy Smith, Chris Talkington and Dantrell Thomas are the most experienced players in coach J.P. Piper’s system.Being without Thomas, who has been going for 20 points or more in the run Nicholls has been on, early in conference play hurt, but since he has returned, he has been a difference maker.Paired with the scoring of freshman Trevon Lewis of Houma, they have given the Colonels the offensive lift they were in need of.But under Piper offense isn’t what has won games. It’s been defense. If the Colonels finish strong defensively in these final three regular season SLC games (at McNeese State on Saturday, at Northwestern State on Wednesday and at home against Southeastern on March 3), they can reach Katy.Currently they are in eighth place at 5-8 in the SLC, a game behind 6-7 Sam Houston State for seventh and a game in front of ninth-place Texas State (4-9). The Colonels own the tiebreaker with Texas State, but not with Sam Houston.With the return of Thomas. Piper has a solid eight-man rotation. Thomas, point guard Shane Rillieux, Smith, Hammond, Lewis, Sam McBeath, Linden Smith-Hyde and Talkington all logged 16 minutes or more on Wednesday night.Each of those players has at least two seasons (and in some cases three) of eligibility left with the Colonels after this season.Plus, Hunter, a 6-foot-5 guard/forward, is a former all-SLC Freshman of the Year and a former third-team all-Louisiana player in 2010. He will be back after suffering a knee injury last season and taking a redshirt this season.The Colonels probably aren’t be ready to win the SLC Tournament and clinch the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament this season.But if they qualify for the conference tourney by making a late season push and play in one or two games, it could go a long way toward the success of the team next year, especially with so many talented young players coming back.

Staff Writer Kelly McElroy can be reached at 857-2211 or at kelly.mcelroy@houmatoday.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.